How Internships Make You Job-ready

Today, after graduation, students tend to focus on what courses they should take up for masters, keeping their future job scene in mind.  When students take up professionally-oriented courses, they have real expectations about what jobs they want to take up.

Some professionally-oriented courses have internships built into the academic process, and this may be the reason for a student to choose a programme. An internship is something students should really consider before going for a job.

It is a fact that just academic records may not be sufficient for getting a job, and employers today are now looking people with acquired skills. So, an internship can be a great way to acquire industrial skills, understand business ethics and of course, start a career.

You get real ‘job’ experience with an internship. You get to learn what it is like to work in an office and gain some hands-on work experience, and any fear of a new, unknown work environment will disappear.

Plus, your confidence will improve significantly, as you are exposed to the work schedules and processes; and interacting with people in the work environment, will add another dimension to student life. It makes you professionally-oriented.

So, internships not only help you to get an exposure to real industry problems, but you are also trained in finding ways on how to solve them.

As far as careers are concerned, it can help students in choosing a career of their choice. Doing an internship can make a student decide whether this particular career is right for him or her or not. Internships actually help you discover what you enjoy doing.

In fact, internships give you an insight about what type of work you feel aligned to and probably, which organization you may want to work for. It ensures that it gears up a student to face the job scenario in the future.

Students often wonder where they will be placed in the industry and how they will proceed in their careers. They can work towards achieving success in their career moves, by actually doing an internship.

Through internships, students get an opportunity to put the bookish, academic knowledge they have gained in classrooms to practice. Thus, an internship makes a student job-ready.

The good news is that an internship may lead to landing you into a full-time job! If the work you do while doing an internship is good and is noticed by seniors, there is a chance that the same company may offer you a full-time job.

You may get a pre-placement offer. After all, the employers have invested time and money in helping you acquire the desired skills and they have assessed how well you perform your job too. If they are satisfied, they will certainly offer a full-time employment option.

Networking in the industry is a bonus point. Students get to meet industry professionals, possibly making friends with the people, they may work with in the future. Plus, they also stand a chance to meet seniors and influential people in the industry.

There are cases where students get good jobs just because someone recommended them, and it may be someone they met during their internship.

Networking with the right people always helps you getting a job, as they always know where the vacancy is. Thus, an internship opens up the opportunity to meet new people almost every day and also increases your network circle.

Lastly, internships do help in adding weight to your CV. Nothing looks better on your resume than the work experience you have already gained in the field you are interested in.

Besides, it really sets you apart from the rest of the job applicants. And as many believe, a good academic record is important for embarking on a career, but it’s your experience that is of prime importance.

So, internship experience on your CV, gives you a chance to beat others to the job that you are aspiring for! And give a flying start to your career.

Written by Prof. Ramola Kumar, Dean, The Delhi School of Communication